Machine for splicing and repairing film



1951 A. WALLINGSFORD MACHINE FOR SPLICING-AND REPAIRING FILM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mum mun

Filed Dec. 6, 1944 INVENTOR: wallinj sford,

ATTORNEY 1951 A. WALLINGSFORD MACHINE FOR SPLICING AND REPAIRING FILM 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 6, 1944 4] o &5 222 INVENTOR:

A' W amZ,

ATTOR/VfX Patented Aug. 21, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAGHINEFGR SPLICIN G AND FREPAIRIN G Armour 'Wallings'ford, Los Angeles, Calif. Application necember 6, 1944, SerialNo. .5.66,'8'95 '8 Claims. (01. 154-424) This invention relates to means, and amachine for splicing and .repairing film. v

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel and improved-means :for splicing together adjoining ends of sections of .a film and for repairing broken and-damaged-film.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and efiicient machine for splicing together adjoining ends of sections-of -a fi-lm and for repairing broken and damaged film.

Another object is to .provide a spliced film with the ends of adjoining-sections of the film spliced together in overlapping relation with adhesive transparent material such as adhesive cellophane tape.

Another object is to provide a novel, simple and eflicient machine for splicing together .adjoining ends of sections of a film with adhesive transparent tape, such as adhesive cellophane tape, and forrepairing broken and damaged with such tape.

Another object is to provide a portable machine of the character-stated for splicing or repairing film anywhere that the film may happen to be when splicing or repairing the same is required.

A further object is to provide a :novel and improved means and machine .for splicing rsound film in such manner as'to avoid objectionable sound when the splice in the film .comes ?before a sound projector.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter as this specification progresses. Y

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings which form apart of this specification and 'in which:

Fig. I 'is a plan view of my machine for splicing and repairingfilm.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of my film splicing and repairing 'machine taken -on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of *myfilmsplicing and repairing machine.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section "of my film splicing and repairing machine taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the anvil and'dieof my film splicing and repairing machine.

Fig. '6 is a transverse vertical section of said anvil and die taken on line-'6--6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal vertical section on an enlarged scale of the anvil and die, and the presser head, with the presser head depressed and in the act of pressing the adhesive tape against the upper and lower sides of 1118:81'165 of adjoining sections "of a film and of punching the perforations in said tape and cutting the tape along the side edges of said film.

Fig. 8 is a iplanvi'ew of a-film spliced by :my invention.

.2 Fig. 9 is ajplan viewof a-film repaired bymy invention.

10 :is :a fragmentary plan view of a modification-ofmy invention for splicing a sound film at an angle.

1,1 is :a plan view-of the anvil and die of the modification of my invention shown .in Fig. :10.

Fig. 1 2 is a plan viewsof sound film spliced at an angle by the modification of my invention shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals designate the :same parts in all :of the figures, my invention includes generally :a base 1, .a splicing anvil 2 mounted on said base; a pair :of cylindrical cores 3 and 4 on which are :turnably fitted rolls 5 and 6, respectively, of adhesive cellophane tape 1 and 8; a presser lever B pivoted at .itsrear end at Ill to the rear end of :said base .I, and formed at its forward end with a-presser head I I; a presser head plate 12 secured .to the underside of said presser head and .a pair of cutter blades 13, two rows of punches l4 and a pressure plate .45 mounted on the lowerside of said pressure .-head plate [2; a presser-lever retracting spring 16.; and a .cam =lock .11 for said adhesive cellophane tapes 1 and-. 8 mounted =.on the forward endof said base I.

IIhe-base I fist formed with .a well 18 over which is secured a tape housing I9 .-for the rolls 5 and 6 of adhesive icellophane tape. Said housing 19 is formed in .two vertical side sections 120 and 21 which are secured together at their inner edges by .a thumb screw '22, with said edges coinciding with the longitudinal axis indicated by the sectionline 2-2 of my machine. On the lower outer .side edges of the side sections and 2| f the .housing 1:9 are formed external base flanges =24 ;and.25, respectively, which flanges are secured to the base .I by thumb screws .25

and 2 whereby :said housing is detachably secured to said base "over said well 18. Dowels 28 on the inner edge of the housing section 2.0 are fitted Pin :sockets 29 in the inner edge of the housing section 7.1 for maintaining said sections in alignment with :each other. The cylindrical more 3 for the roll i5 of cellophane tape Fl z-is :secured on a shaft .31.], the ends of which extend :a :short distance beyond the ends of .said core and nest :in half bearings '31 and 3-2 in the upper .side edges of the well 18 and in half :bearings :33 :and :34 in the lower edges of the side walls of the housing sections and 2| respectively. The cylindrical 100138 4 xfor the .roll "6 of icellophane :tape 8 is formed in two sections and 3.6, :the :section -35 extending inwardly irom the side wall of the housing section .20 :and :the section 35 .extending inwardly aseaooe 3 so that the inner ends of said core sections meet when said housing sections are brought together at their inner edges. The thumb screw 22 extends through an opening 31 in the side wall of the housing section and the core section 35, and into a threaded opening 38 in the thread of said threaded opening, whereby the sections and H of the housing [9, and the sections and 35 of the core 4 are detachably held securely together. In the front walls of the sections 20 and 2! of the housing I9 is provided an opening 39 formed partly in each of said front walls, through which opening are extended forwardly the adhesive cellophane tapes '5 and 8 from the tape rolls 5 and 6, respectively.

The splicing anvil 2 is secured upon the upper side of the base i, forwardly of the housing l9 and tape rolls 5 and 6, over a well 40 in said base, and said anvil is provided with two transverse blade receiving slots 4|, and two rows of punch receiving openings 42 located directly over said well 45,- while four film-positioning pins 43 extend upwardly from said anvil. The two blade-receiving slots 4! are spaced apart at a distance corresponding to the width of a motion picture film 34, so that the side edges 45 of said slots, which are nearer each other, may coincide with the side edges of a motion picture film placed on the anvil 2, across the same. The two rows of punch-receiving openings 42 are located respectively, near the side edges 45 of the blade-receiving slots 4| and in alignment with the two rows, respectively, of perforations 46 of said motion picture film 44, when said film is placed across the anvil2 with its side edges coinciding with the side edges 45 of the blade-receiving slots 4|.

There are preferably four openings 42 in each row of said openings, two of which, being located at each side of the longitudinal axis 2-2 of the anvil 2. Two of the pins 43 are located beyond the ends, respectively, of each row of punch-receiving openings 42- and in alignment with said openings. The punch-receiving openings "i2 and the pins 43 are positioned to register with perforations 46 extending through overlapping ends 41 and 48 of two sections 49 and 50 of the film 44, when said film sections are .1

placed across the anvil 2 with their overlapping ends coinciding with the axis 22 of my machine, which axis is also the longitudinal axis of said anvil. The pins 43 beyond the ends, respectively, of the rows of punch-receiving openings 42, are positioned at such distances from the said longitudinal axis of the anvil 2, that they are beyond the side edges, repectively, of the cellophane tapes 1 and 8, when said tapes are extended longitudinally and axially over the anvil 2, in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter more fully described. In the upper forward edge of the well 18 is formed a tape groove SI for the cellophane tape 1, and in the upper rear edge of the anvil 2 is formed a tape groove 52 for said cellophane tape, which grooves guide said tape axially over said anvil when said tape is drawn forwardly from the tape roll 5 over the anvil 2.

On the pressure head II the cutter blades 13, and the punches iii are secured at their upper portions in the presser head plate I2 and extenddownwardly and slidably through openings 53 and 54, respectively, in the pressure plate I5 located below said presser head plate I2. Stop 4 screws 55 extend downwardly and slidably through openings 56 in the presser head plate l2 and are threaded in openings 51 in the pressure-plate 15, with the heads 58 of said screws countersunk in the upper side of said presser head plate in countersunk sockets 59 in the upper the core section 35 in threaded engagement with side of said presser head plate at the upper ends of said screw openings 56, so that said screw -heads 58 engage the lower ends of said sockets and hold the pressure plate l5 on the presser head plate l2 in slightly-spaced relation below said presser head plate, when the presser lever 9 is swung upwardly and the pressure plate 15 is raised above the anvil 2, while said screw heads 58 rest in said countersunk sockets 59 within and below the upper side of said presser head plate [2, when the presser lever is swung down into its lowermost position over the anvil 2 and the pressure plate I5 is forced upwardly against the pressure head plate l2 by the engagement of the pressure plate l5, with the adhesive cellophane tape 8, with said tape and the tape 1' extended longitudinally and axially over the anvil 2, and the film 44 extended transversely over said anvil between said cellophane tapes 1 and 8, in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter more fully described. Coil springs 55 are fitted in aligned sockets BI and B2 in the upper side of the pressure plate l5 and in the lower side of the presser-head plate l2, respectively, which springs force said pressure plate downwardly from the presser-head plate i2 until the heads 58 of the stop screws 55 engage the lower ends of the countersunk sockets 59, when the presser lever 9 is swung upwardly and the pins 43, respectively, when the presser lever 9 is swung down and said pressure plate is brought close to the anvil 2. The presser level 9 comprises a pair of spaced side arm members 54,

, which are connected together near their rear ends bya cross bar 65, and to the forward ends of which are secured the presser head ii. The

rear ends of said side arm members 54 are fitted adjacent the ends, respectively, of a transverse embossment upstanding from the rear end of the base I, and said rear ends of said arm members are turnably fitted on the ends, respectively, of the pivot H], which is secured in said embossment and extends outwardly from the ends, respectively thereof, whereby the presser lever 9 is pivoted at the rear end to the rear end of the base I, with its side arm members 64 extending forwardly at opposite sides, respectively, of the tape housing l9, and with the presser head ll positioned directly above the anvil 2. On the lower edge of the cross bar 65 is formed a depending stud 51 midway between the side arm members 54 of the presser lever 9, which stud is fitted in the upper end of the presser lever respring the presser lever 9 is normally swung into 5, its uppermost position with the presser head H retracted from the anvil 2.

ihe cam look It comprises a cylindrical cam secured eccentrically on one end of a shaft 1| journaled in a bearing 12, upstanding from a plate 13 secured on the forward end of the base I, in the outer end of which shaft is secured a pin handle 14 extending radially from saidshaft, by means of which handle said shaft and cam 10 are turned for gripping and locking the forward ends of the adhesive cellophane tapes 1' and 8 between said cam and said plate 13. The inner end of the cam 1-8 is positioned adjacent the inner end of the bearing 12 while the handle 14 is positioned adjacent the outer end of said bearihg, whereby the shaft 1| is maintained in. said hearing. A guide pin extends upwardly from the plate 13 adjacent the outer end of the cam 10 for engaging one of the side edges of the cellophane tapes 1 and 8, while the other side edges of said tapes engage the inner end of the bearing 12, whereby said tapes are guided between the cam 19 and the plates 13 along the longitudinal axis 22 of my machine.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

Normally the presser lever 9 is swung up into its uppermost position by the spring I6 with its presser head I I raised above the anvil 2, while the adhesive cellophane tapes 1 and 8 are drawn forwardly from their rolls 5 and 6, respectively, through the opening 99 in the front wall of the tape housing 19, between the anvil 2 and the pressure plate iii of the presser head II and the forward ends of said tapes are brought together between the plate 13 and the cam 19 of the cam lock [1, and the cam shaft 1| and said cam are turned by the handle 14 until said cam engages the uppermost cellophane tape 8 and grips the ends of the cellophane tapes 1 and 8 upon the plate 13, looking said tape in operative position, with adhesive surface of the lower tape 1 uppermost and the adhesive surface of the upper tape 8 lowermost and with said lower tape extending longitudinally axially over the anvil 2 and said upper tape extending forwardly and downwardly at an inclination directly over and in alignment with said lower tape and in contact with the lower rear edge of the pressure plate 15 of the pressure head II.

A film 44 being cut transversely at predetermined points into two sections 49 and 50, the cut end portions of said sections are extended transversely between the adhesive cellophane tapes 1 and 8 and placed upon the upper adhesive side of the lower cellophane tape 1 over the anvil 2, with the cut-end portion of the section '49 at one side of the longitudinal axis 22 of said anvil and the cut-end portion of the section at the other side of said axis, with the cut ends 41 and 48 of said sections against each other in overlapping relation, with the two pins 43 at one side of said axis of the anvil projecting through two perforations 46of the film section 49 and with the other two pins "43 atthebther sideof said anvil axis projecting through two perforations 46 of the film section 58, and with the two foremost perforations 46 of the two rows of perforations of the film section 49 in registration withthe two openings 42 of the two rows of said openings at one side of said anvil axis, and the two foremost perforations 46 of the two rows of perforations of the film section 50 in registration with the two openings 42 of the two rows of said openings at the other side of said anvil axis, thus positioning the film sections 49 and 50 in by the cam lock [1. The

position to be spliced upon the anvil 2. "The presser head "H and presser lever 9 are then pressed down by the operator against the tension of the spring 16, whereupon the upper adhesive cellophane" tape 8 is engaged by the pressure plate 5-'of the pressiire head 'I l and pressed clown orizontally u-ii'til the" lower adhesive side of said tape 8 is pressed firm-1y against the upper side of the cut end portions of the film sections 49 and'50 and said end portions of said film sections are pressed firmly against the upper adhesive side of the lower adhesive tape 1 upon the anvil 2 whereby said tapes 1 and 8 are caused to adhere firmly to the lower and upper sides, respectively, of the cut forward end portions of the film sections 49 and 59 directly over the overlapping cut ends 41 and 48 of said film sections, during which operations the pins 43 are projected into the openings 63 in the pressure plate l5 for accurately positioning the cut end portions of the film sections 49 and 59 for splicing the same, and the punches 14 are projected downwardly through the upper cellophane tape 8, perforations 46 in the end portions of the film sections 49 and 58, the lower cellophane tape 1 and into the openings 42 in the anvil 2, punching perforations 46' in the tapes 8 and 1, respectively, in registration with the perforations 48 in the film sections 49 and 50 under said tapes 8 and 1, while the cutter blades l3 are projected downwardly through the cellophane tapes 8 and 1 into the blade openings 4!, cutting said tapes along the inner edges 45 of said openings and along the side edges of the cut end portions of the film sections 49 and 50, and thus completing the splicing together of cut ends 41 and 48 of said film sections. The presser head II is then released by the operator and the presser lever 9 and said presser head are then swung upwardly into their uppermost position by the spring l8, withdrawing the punches M from the anvil punch openings 42 and from the perforations 46' and 46 in the tapes 1 and '8 and in the film sections 49 and 50, respectively, and withdrawing the blades l3 from the anvil blade openings 4|. The spliced film 44 is then removed from the anvil 2, and, with the perforations 46 punched in the cellophane tapes 1 and 8 in registration with the film perforations 4B, the spliced film may be run through a motion picture projector. The cam lock I1 is then turned and disengaged from the forward ends of the forward cut-off portions of the tapes 1 and 8, and said forward cut-off portions of said tapes are removed from the machine and disposed of. The forward ends of the cellophane tapes 1 and 8 extending from the rolls 5 and 6, respectively, are then gripped, and said tapes are drawn forwardly over the anvil 2 and said forward ends of said tapes are locked machine is thus again set for repeating the above-described operations and splicing another film.

In the use of my machine for repairing a broken motion picture film 80, as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawing, the film at the place where it is broken and the broken part 8| of the film fitted in position in the film, are placed upon the adhesive tape 1 over the anvil 2, with the pins 43 projecting through four perforations 46 in the film and with other perforations 46 in registration with the openings 42 in the anvil, and the presser lever 9 and presser head II are pressed down until the adhesive cellophane tapes 1 and 8 are pressed into adhesive contact with the lower and upper sides, respectively, of the film 80 and-its broken part 8|, and perforations 46* are punched by the punches M in said tapes in registration with the perforations 46 in the film between said tapes and said tapes are cut by the blades I3 along the side edges of said film, thus repairing the film by securing the broken part 8! of the film 80 in position in the film by patches of the adhesive cellophane tapes 'I and 8.

The ends 82 and 83 of the sections 84 and 85 of a film 55 may be cut at an angle and spliced together in overlapping relation by my machine with the adhesive cellophane tapes 1 and 8, as

above described and as illustrated in Fig. 12. The film 85 may be a silent motion-picture film, but more particularly a sound film, with a sound track 81, since the spliced ends of sections-of sound film are cut at an angle to avoid the reproduction of objectionable sounds which are produced by the spliced ends of sound film sections having their ends out directly straight across the film.

In splicing the ends of the film sections at an angle the cutter blades 13 and blade openings 41, punches i3 and punch openings I4 and the pins 43 and pin openings 53 are arranged at an angle in my machine, as illustrated in the modification of my invention shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the blades l3, punches i l and punch openings 83 being arranged at an angle in the presser head H as shown in Fig. 10 and the blade openings 4|, punch openings 22, and pins 43 being arranged at an angle in the anvil 2, as shown in Fig. 11.

I claim:

1. A machine for splicing film including an anvil, a presser head mounted to be swung toward or away from said anvil, means for operatively mounting two rolls of adhesive transparent tapes so that said tapes may be extended from said rolls between said anvil and said presser head, and between which tapes may be positioned adjoining ends of two sections of a film, a lock for locking the ends of said tapes when said tapes are extended between said anvil and said presser head, and while said presser head is pressed down toward said anvil for compressing said adhesive tapes against the opposite sides respectively, of said film sections.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1, in which said anvil is provided with pairs of pins projecting upwardly from the upper face thereof for passing through certain pairs of the perforations in the film sections the adjacent ends of which are to be spliced, said pairs of pins centering the film sections on said anvil with relation to the adhesive tape which is held in a position crosswise of the overlapped ends or" said film sections.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 1, in which said presser head is mounted on one end of a lever, the other end of which is pivotally supported on said base and including a spring engaging said presser lever for normally holding the same in a raised position with the presser head spaced above said anvil.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 1, including a housing mounted on said base between said anvil and the pivot axis of said presser lever, said housing having means for supporting rolls of adhesive tape, said housing extending upwardly through an opening in said presser lever.

5. A machine for splicing film including means for holding in position in overlapped relation adjacent ends of two sections of a film, means for holding an adhesive transparent tape in position over said overlapped ends of said film sections, pressure means for pressing said tape and said overlapped film ends together, and punches secured to said pressure means and movable therewith for punching perforations through said tape in registration with perforations in said film sections, when the adhesive tape and the overlapped ends of said film sections are pressed together by said pressure means.

6. A machine for splicing film including means for holding in position in overlapped relation adjacent ends of two sections of a film, means for holding an adhesive transparent tape in position over said overlapped ends of said film sections, pressure means for pressing said tape and said overlapped film ends together, and cutting means secured to said pressure means and movable therewith for cutting said adhesive tape along the side edges of said film sections, when the adhesive tape and the overlapped ends of said film sections are pressed together by said pressure means. I

'7. A machine for splicing film including a base, an anvil mounted on said base, a presser head mounted on said base to be moved toward or away from said anvil, means for holding the ends of two film sections in overlapping relation on said anvil, means for operatively mounting a roll of adhesive transparent tape upon said base whereby said tape may be extended from said roll over said overlapped ends of said film sections, while said presser head is pressed down, for pressing said adhesive tape against said overlapped ends of said film sections for splicing said ends together by said tape, and cutter blades secured on said movably mounted presser head for cutting the adhesive tape along the side edges of the film when said presser head is depressed toward said anvil.

8. A machine for splicing film including a base, an anvil mounted on said base, a presser head mounted on said base to be moved toward or away from said anvil, means for holding the ends of two film sections in overlapping relation on said anvil, means for operatively mounting a roll of adhesive transparent tape upon said base whereby said tape may be extended from said roll over said overlapped ends of said film sections, while said presser head is pressed down, for pressing said adhesive tape against said overlapped ends of said film sections for splicing said ends together by said tape, and punches secured on the presser head for punching perforations in the adhesive tape in registration with the perforations in the adjoining ends of the film sections positioned on the anvil, said anvil being provided with apertures for receiving the punches on the presser head when the latter is moved downwardly to press the adhesive tape and the film section ends together.

ARMOUR VVALLINGSFORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,121,765 Schultze Dec. 22, 1914 1,396,895 Stolz Nov. 15, 1921 1,535,129 Monacelli et a1. Apr. 28, 1925 1,598,445 Howell Aug. 31, 1926 1,730,929 Flynn Oct. 8, 1929 2,318,287 Brolin May 4, 1943 2,346,874 Russell Apr. 18, 1944 

